He's best know for his famous catchphrase, "Unbelievable Jeff!", his brilliant banter and sometime hopeless pitchside reporting on Soccer Saturday, but now TV favourite, Chris Kamara has made an emotional documentary about the diagnosis which has seen the pundit struggle with his speech. In the documentary Chris Kamara: Lost for Words, which airs on Wednesday, December 14, Chris and close friend, Jeff Stelling share a tender moment as they remember Chris's last day on Soccer Saturday.
The former Sheffield United midfielder and Ninja Warrior presenter, known by so many as Kammy, was forced to step down from his job on Soccer Saturday after he was diagnosed with speech apraxia, a very rare condition which affects how people talk and their ability to translate their thoughts into words. Chris revealed his condition in earlier 2022 and had to leave Soccer Saturday, on which he had appeared since 1999.
While chatting about the first time they met and their memories of the show, Chris said: "We had some great times didn't we?". Jeff described Chris's diagnosis as "so cruel", he said: "It's so cruel...people didn't need to see you, just as soon as you spoke they knew".
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Chris also explained how he hoped he would wake up one day with no speech problems and be able to carry on with his passion. Becoming emotional Jeff said: "The last day was tough wasn't it?" while Chris replied: "My last day working at Rotherham that was the end for me...". Jeff continued to say: "I found it really hard, a bit like now actually...it was tough" as he became more emotional.
Beginning to cry Chris said: "Don't make me cry!" as he and Jeff clinked their pint glasses together. The moving documentary also featured scenes of Chris saying he doesn't feel like his old self.
He said: "I was the loudest person in the world and now I've become one of the quietest person in the world." Chris also met children struggling with their speech development in the documentary and wants to raise awareness for the lack of funding for speech development resources.
Chris Kamara: Lost For Words airs on Wednesday, December 14 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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